“I’d Rather Love You”
Charley Pride
Written by Johnny Duncan
Billboard
#1 (3 weeks)
March 6 – March 20, 1971
Some of these reviews are going to be repetitive early on in the seventies. It’s the same artists with the same producers spending multiple weeks at number one, churning out new singles and albums at a rapid pace.
So while “I’d Rather Love You” previews a new Charley Pride album, it’s the same restrained sound we’ve heard on previous chart toppers, with a staid arrangement and dated background singers smothering another great pure country vocal performance.
Just get out of the man’s way, y’all. He’s got this.
“I’d Rather Love You” gets a B+.
Every No. 1 Single of the Seventies
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“C”. I love Charley Pride but this song is mediocre, and his vocal performance also lacks believability. All legends do have missteps and this is one for him.
I suppose I’ve found the reason why I gravitate to older country so much more. I absolutely love the background singers on this record and think they elevate Charley’s stellar performance. Also interesting that this was written by Johnny Duncan.
I agree about the production, but this is absolutely my favorite Charley Pride song. Johnny Duncan was one of my favorites from the late 1960s-1970s. Johnny, Charley’s opening act at the time, originally issued the song on one of his albums (and did a fine job with the song) but decided that there was much more money to be made by letting Charley record it, than in releasing it as a single himself. Johnny’s day in the sun would come a few years later
I’m a fan of that Johnny Duncan album, Paul. I never connected that he wrote I’d Rather Love You but it does make sense.
I have similarly always considered this one of Pride’s more memorable moments. The production choices are so intimately bound up with the sound of his performance as a whole, I see no need, or benefit, to considering something else as possibly improving perfection.
That might just be the love I have for Charley Pride talking.
I have a boy crush.
Bonus Beats:
Here’s the version of “I’d Rather Love You” that Conway Twitty recorded for his 1971 album I Wonder What She’ll Think About Me Leaving:
https://youtu.be/BPg88GqRt4c
Of the 70’s Charley Pride hits I already know and have heard, this is one of my most favorites. It has one of those beautiful classic melodies that just immediately grabs me and holds my attention all the way through, plus I love Charley’s vocals once again, along with the instrumentation. I really love the lyrics, as well. I’m still known to chills when I hear this one sometimes. It has just about everything a classic country record should have, imho.
I actually have this one on one of my favorite playlists that mainly includes 80s and early 90s new traditionalist country, since it sonically still really fits in, despite it being from the 70s.
I also didn’t know Johnny Duncan wrote this one!